We are prepared for FIBA Africa Basketball league, says Civil Defenders Ijigba

Ahead of the 2019 FIBA Africa Basketball League,  a Shooting guard Joel Ijigba that ply his trade with the league's debutants Civil Defenders of Nigeria has said that they are fully prepared for the league.

He, however stressed that he may not have been on the big stage but there is no qualm  of the unknown, adding that every team is a potential championship.

“We are prepared for this League. Every team in this Round of 16 stage is a potential champion and we can’t afford not to take our chances. I understand there are teams that have been on the continent long before now and for us as debutants, we will give it our best shot.” He said.

In an exclusive interview he told FIBA.Basketball that he and his teammates had looked forward to the draw held last weekend in Abidjan with great expectations not minding which team is drawn with them.

Reminded that experience comes to player in the game, Ijigba notes that he and his teammates’ would not be deterred.

"As a team, Defenders are hitting the continent as rookies but that does not mean that all the players are neophytes. We can count on the experiences of Alhassan Joseph, Victor Okpe among others to help us get the desired results we need. Some of our players have played at the international level and can hold their own.” He said.

Ijigba and his team finished second place in Cotonou last December at the Zone 3 Qualifiers and now flirts with the idea that he is already foreseeing that they would make a strong statement in the Group B and beyond.

Voted among to the top 5 players in the Qualifiers, Ijigba is looking forward to another high level performance when the Round of 16 of the continental showdown tips off.

Speaking about their opponents in group B, he said the draw is not entirely strange.

"We weren’t expecting any particular teams but we’re glad that ELAN Sportif from Benin Republic is in the battle with us. The Beninoise team is known to us and we understand how they play. " 

"Though, we beat them in Cotonou, it does not mean that we look down on them or any other team for that matter." He said.

The First Round of the of the formulated competition will take place from February 8 to March 10 across different African cities.